Comments on: Nortel’s Release Yells

By: CimbPhibrarak

CimbPhibrarak — Wed, 20 May 2009 18:32:47 +0000

Fantastic post:D I will come back:D

By: Kel

Kel — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 20:35:13 +0000

phyllis! so fun to hear from you. lots of therapy has helped me get over my days in telecom. lol! hope all is well in your world. thinking of you brings a big smile to my face.

By: Phyllis Brock

Phyllis Brock — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 20:18:03 +0000

Hi Kel,
I just came across your blogs. Great reading them….especially about your reaction to Nortel’s ad campaign! Hope all is well.
Best regards,
Phyllis

By: Bob Gaughan

Bob Gaughan — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 23:09:02 +0000

I work out of my house in Weston – happy to get together. I don’t get out to Westborough very often – but if I do – I will stop by.

And – when you move into Boston – let me know where/when.

By: Kel

Kel — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 17:56:39 +0000

omg bob! i read your name and shouted. “no way!” how the hell are you? not surprised you are still there. how would the vast majority of the world understand networking without your ability to break it down into laypeople’s terms. nortel did a great job with this. i hope the team gets credit for taking steps towards expanding the nortel brand into a hipper, more contemporary light. seriously. i loved it. are you still living in ma? hope our paths cross at some point. we are moving the biz to great new space in boston by the end of the year. look me up if you’re ever in the area.

By: Bob Gaughan

Bob Gaughan — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 17:16:15 +0000

Kel- just to let you know – you have become a big hero in our marketing org

Bob

By: Kel

Kel — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 14:09:52 +0000

first of all i want to be named “bo.” how cool is that?! i really respect the nortel employees behind the campaign and release. having worked as an officer at a $2.5 billion networking company, i know it’s a herculean effort to get people to think differently and support out-of-the-box strategies like the campaign and release strategy you employed here. two snaps & a circle to you and your peeps. i would imagine you’ve ignited energy in the industry and inside the company. tell your execs a very influential blogger says you all deserve a raise. haha!

thanks for taking the time to comment bo.

By: Bo Gowan - Nortel

Bo Gowan - Nortel — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 13:00:13 +0000

Hey Kel – glad you liked what we were doing with this campaign. The strategy might not be right for every company’s situation, but it’s working for us.

The direct message has grabbed the attention of the industry, and the enthusiasm of our employees (who helped create some of the YouTube videos that are being voted on).

By: Kel

Kel — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 11:07:09 +0000

david, i agree that releases announcing ad campaigns are not news. kick-ass results following the campaign launch would be the real news. however, cisco has had a halo over its brand for over a decade and nortel has felt the heat. i think the essence of the campaign relative to the “cisco energy tax” is brilliant. it’s a great way to get companies to rethink their habitual purchases of cisco products and position nortel in a positive light. my guess is their audience on a cnn media buy is the cxo (cio, cfo, ceo) who has overall financial/budget responsibility.

By: David Cooperstein

David Cooperstein — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 02:01:28 +0000

Honestly, I am not a huge fan of the “Press release touting the ad campaign” in the spirit of attempting to make it real news. If something is viral, and you can prove it, write about it then. You’re the PR and marketing expert on that one.

However, I do like the face that they, NORTEL, used the 2.0 tools to get some viral effort going. Not sure how Cisco will feel about it (that’s for those other hired guns – the lawyers – to figure out) but kudos to Nortel for making an attempt to appear hip. Um, who is their audience?